Jeddah (Jiddah) vs Ankara: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Ankara costs roughly 8% less than Jeddah (Jiddah). Jeddah (Jiddah) scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Ankara is approximately 5% less expensive than Jeddah (Jiddah) based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ankara a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ankara has a FIRE Score of 79/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 72, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Ankara is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Jeddah (Jiddah)
Jeddah is a solid mid-tier pick for expats who want big-city amenities without big-city prices, with a cost of living index of 46/100 against NYC and a 1-bedroom in the center at $797/mo. The tradeoff is the heat and the air: an arid climate and an air quality index of 105 mean you will spend a lot of time indoors, and English is mostly common in tourist areas rather than everywhere. With an overall expat score of 70/100 and a digital nomad score of 76/100, it rewards remote workers and families more than retirees, who score it 67/100. Come for the large, active expat community in Al Hamra, Rawdah, and Obhur, and budget for the $80 mid-range dinner for two.
About Saudi Arabia
Best for FIRE & GeoArbitrage seekers who want zero income tax and low costs — $780/mo excluding rent is 58% cheaper than NYC. Safety is strong with a 76.1 index and crime at 23.9, well below US averages. The dealbreaker: no retirement or digital nomad visa, a difficult path to PR, and a Travel Advisory Level of 3 from the US signals political risk.
$1,885/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Ankara
Ankara is the rare capital where a single adult can live on a mid-range budget of $1,007/mo while still banking a local net salary of $1,086/mo, and a $12/mo transit pass makes the whole city reachable. The trade-offs are real: air quality sits at 75, winters are cold and snowy, and the $3,000/mo income floor for the digital nomad visa prices out most remote workers despite a digital nomad score of 81/100. Come for the low cost of living index of 43/100 and the Çankaya, Gaziosmanpaşa, and Oran expat clusters, but do not expect Istanbul's energy or a retiree-friendly bureaucracy at a 66/100 retiree score.
About Turkey
Best for digital nomads meeting the $3,000/mo income requirement for Turkey’s dedicated visa. COL is 61% lower than NYC with a single monthly budget of $646.20 excluding rent. However, internists and a moderate political stability score pose risks for long-term stays.
$1,993/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Jeddah (Jiddah) | Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $796.91 | $760.78 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $530.19 | $572.06 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1421.21 | $1160.45 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $827.86 | $887.68 |
| Safety Index | 80 | 72 |
| Internet Speed | 55.1Mbps | 100Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Jeddah (Jiddah) | Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,161/mo | $1,071/mo |
| Excluding rent | $631/mo | $499/mo |
| Rent | $530/mo | $572/mo |
| Groceries | $170/mo | $125/mo |
| Dining out | $61.00/mo | $102/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $149/mo | $137/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $196/mo | $123/mo |
| Transport | $55.00/mo | $12.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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